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12 Jan 2012

Ra

Photo by Craig Schwartz

The producers of the new musical Leap of Faith announced Jan. 12 that the musical comedy — starring Raúl Esparza as a flim-flam preacher and Jessica Phillips as a small-town sheriff — would begin Broadway performances April 3 at the St. James Theatre.

A late-April opening date will be announced. The 6:45 PM announcement on Thursday was made concurrently with an announcement by the producers of On a Clear Day You Can See Forever that that revival would close Jan. 29.

Tony-nominated director Christopher Ashley (Memphis) will direct Leap of Faith, based on the film comedy that starred Steve Martin.

The score is by Academy and Grammy Award winner Alan Menken (music) and Glenn Slater (lyrics), who wrote the score to Broadway's Sister Act.

Here's how producers characterize Leap of Faith: "When his traveling ministry breaks down in a small Kansas town, part-time reverend and full-time con artist Jonas Nightingale (Raul Esparza) quickly pitches a tent and invites the locals to a revival. The town sheriff, Marla Humes (Jessica Phillips) is determined to stop him from separating the townspeople from their money."